GENEVA, N.Y.—Senior midfielder Sarah Dillon (Blair Academy/Oldwick, N.J.) recorded a game-high six points on five goals and an assist, but its wasn't to lift the 15th-ranked William Smith lacrosse team over No. 13 Cortland in the first game of the annual Heron Draw on McCooey Field. With the win, the Red Dragons snap a three-game losing streak and even their record at 3-3, while the Herons slip to 4-2.

Cortland used a fast start to seize the early lead and never relinquished its advantage. Junior attacker Beth Elmer (West Genesee/Camillus, N.Y.) opened the scoring at the 3:16 mark, finishing a feed from senior attacker Gina Fazio (General Brown/Brownville, N.Y.). Little more than a minute later, Fazio scored on a free position shot for a two-goal lead. And less than a minute after that, first-year midfielder Jessie Fritz (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) found the back of the net to make it 3-0 Red Dragons.

Fritz finished the day with a team-high three goals, while Fazio and senior midfielder Jennifer Willis (Walt Whitman/Huntington, N.Y.) each contributed two goals and an assist.

Senior midfielder Jessica Scott (Waynflete School/Portland, Maine) got the Herons on the scoreboard at the 7:39 mark, but Cortland struck for back-to-back goals to forge a 5-1 lead.

William Smith shored up its defense over the final 15 minutes of the second half, allowing just one more Red Dragon goal and Dillon strapped the offense on her back. She scored the Herons next three goals, and assisted junior midfielder Rachel Stahl (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville, N.Y.) on the half's final tally.

Cortland led 6-5 at the intermission. Just like the first half, the Red Dragons started the second frame with three consecutive goals, two out of the crosse of Willis and the third from Elmer, to take a 9-5 lead with 21 minutes remaining in the game. William Smith scored three of the final four goals of the day, but could not whittle its deficit below two.

In goal, Cortland first-year Deanne Abell (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton, N.Y.) recorded 11 saves, while junior Morgan Baird (Pingree School/Gloucester, Mass.) registered 13 stops for the Herons.

William Smith is back in action on April 1, when the Herons take on Denison in the second round of the Heron Draw. The contest is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. on McCooey Field.

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GENEVA, N.Y. – Freshman Jessie Fritz (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) scored three goals and freshman Deanne Abell (Fulton/G. Ray Bodley) made 11 saves as 13th-ranked Cortland defeated 15th-ranked William Smith, 10-8, during the first day of competition at William Smith’s Heron Draw tournament. The Red Dragons (3-3) will face Colorado College on Sunday at 11 a.m. in the predetermined schedule, while William Smith (4-2) will play Denison at 2 p.m..

Seniors Jennifer Willis (Huntington/Walt Whitman) and Gina Fazio (Brownville/General Brown) each finished with two goals and one assist and junior Beth Elmer (Camillus/West Genesee) scored twice for the Red Dragons, who never trailed in the contest. Sarah Dillon (Oldwick, NJ/Blair Academy) led the Herons with five goals and one assist and Morgan Baird (Gloucester, MA/Pingree School) recorded 13 saves.

Fritz scored twice in the first 11 minutes of the game to help Cortland take a 5-1 lead. The hosts scored four of the next five goals, however, including three by Dillon, and were within 6-5 at halftime. Willis netted the first two goals of the second half – a free position shot 2:48 into the period and an unassisted goal less than four minutes later – to give Cortland an 8-5 advantage. Willis then assisted on an Elmer goal with just under 21 minutes remaining to extend the lead to 9-5.

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2007-03-31